That type of back-and-forth action earned the lightweight competitors “Fight of the Night” honors on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, but Gillespie took home the entirety of the $100,000 bonus on account of Ferreira missing weight one day prior. While Ferreira got the better of his foe in the opening five minutes, it was Gillespie who had the last laugh, as his withering pace overwhelmed Ferreira to the tune of a TKO stoppage 4:51 into Round 2.
Elsewhere, Alex Morono’s short-notice effort proved to be quite lucrative, as he received a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” check for a first-round technical knockout of Donald Cerrone in the welterweight co-main event. Morono rocked “Cowboy” with a massive counter overhand right, then swarmed with offense against the fence on his reeling foe force the stoppage 4:40 into Round 1.
Finally, newcomer Carlston Lindsay Harris had a memorable Octagon debut, earning a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award thanks to a submission of Christian Aguilera at welterweight. Harris hurt his foe during an exchange, sprawled on a takedown and then locked in an anaconda choke. Aguilera went unconscious 2:52 into Round 1.